This is a model of a Viking ship with crew sailing on calm waters. The ship and men are carved from lime wood. The ship's hull shows the individual planking. On the bow is a large dragon head painted in a deep red with 2 ears and shows a serpents tongue coming out of the mouth. Below the head is a carved wooden ring with X's drawn around the circle. On the stern is the dragon's carved tail paint is yellow and black. On the hull are 10 very colorful and differently painted shields. Inside the ship are 6 wonderfully carved Vikings with each wearing helmets with horns, and colorful painted uniforms of period. 4 of the men are seated and in a rowing position each holding his oar in an upright position. There is a man standing in the bow holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. In front of him and leaning towards the dragon's head are 2 spears. It is possible that there were 2 more spears in this position but they are dislodged and loose in the bottle. Another man is standing in the stern with a shield in one hand and the other hand near a long steering oar extending from the stern of the ship. There is a single mast in the center of the ship and a red and white stripped Viking sail unfurled and rigged to the single spar. There is a gold painted serpent in the center of the sail. The rigging is wonderful and very realistic. On the top the mast is a colorful flag or banner. The bottle is sealed with a hand turned decorative piece of wood and the bottle sits on a delicate stand made to fit the contours of the bottle. This is a handmade and hand painted Viking ship in a bottle by Klaus Diederich, made in the winter of 1999. He was born in 1939 and was living in Straubling, Germany - Bavaria where carving is his hobby.